Welcome to F1GMAT’s Ask Atul Jose series. In today’s episode, I have a question from a reader who is applying for the top 10 MBA programs this year. The question is:

Q) I am working in a boutique management consulting firm. Last week, I got an interview invite for one of the Big 4 consulting companies. Is it wise to switch jobs between May and August, considering the Round 1 deadline for top MBA programs is September and Round 2 is January?

1) Years of Experience: I would definitely look at your years of experience. If you have worked for one employer for the past 2-3 years, with an impressive career progression that could be validated by your current or previous supervisor, then switching jobs now to a large management consulting firm won’t be an issue. But if this is your 3rd  or 4th switch, then it will be a huge problem. Because typically, top schools accept candidates with 2 employer switches if they have less than four years of experience.

2) Round 1 vs. Round 2: The second factor that I would consider is whether you are applying for Round 1 or Round 2. Even if you consider 1-2 months of onboarding, you would have at least one project under your belt for Round 2. And the narratives from that experience could have a significant impact on your candidacy if the consulting solution is related to your background or relevant in media, like the threat of AI or Climate Change.

3) GMAT/GRE Prep: The third factor is the disruption the switch in employer would have on your GMAT/GRE prep. When you go to a new company, there is pressure to build your reputation rapidly. And that means working long hours. If you have not taken the GMAT/GRE, which requires at least two months of preparation, it will be a challenge to balance your work with the test preparation.

4) Goals: The fourth and most important factor would be the impact of the switch on your goals. I have read so many essays where the applicant clearly highlighted the need for an MBA because either it would help them transition to a different function or a different industry or pivot to a company of a larger size where they could manage more people, bigger projects, and complex ecosystems.

So if the scale of the responsibilities of your new job function is considerably larger than the current job function and the increase in salary is also sizeable, then the admissions team would wonder whether an MBA is required or not.

So to summarize:

1) Look at your years of experience and whether you are switching jobs too frequently
2) Are you applying for Round 2
3) Have you taken the GMAT/GRE
4) Is the scale of the responsibilities or the increase in salary so large that an MBA might seem unnecessary?

If you want your questions about MBA/Master’s application or Career Planning answered, reach out to me. Or you can message me through Skype at F1GMAT. I am Atul Jose. See you in the next #askAtulJose series.